U.S. Hate Preacher who Inspired Murderer of Lee Rigby: Killer Tells how he Became a Muslim after Watching Islamic Hardliner’s Sermons

One of the extremist killers of Lee Rigby has revealed that he was inspired to convert to Islam by a hardline preacher who advocates beating women and killing gays.

After he was convicted of murder this month, Michael Adebowale wrote in a letter that the radical sermons of Khalid Yasin had taught him ‘the purpose of life’.

However, he complained that his horrific crimes had alienated him from his family, who do not understand him because they are not Muslims.

The 22-year-old, currently being held at Belmarsh prison, also lamented the fact that mainstream Muslims had condemned the killing of Fusilier Rigby outside Woolwich Barracks in May this year.

Adebowale and fellow jihadist Michael Adebolajo, 29, shocked the world when they struck the soldier with a car in broad daylight and then hacked at his body with a meat cleaver.

They denied murder, but Adebolajo’s only defence was that he was engaged in a holy war, while Adebowale – who has suffered psychotic episodes since the killing – declined to testify in his own defence.

The pair were convicted on December 19, and they could spend the rest of their lives in prison after they are sentenced early in the new year.

The day after the guilty verdict, Abedowale wrote a letter explaining his life story to an unknown pen pal, the Daily Mirror reported.